Pratt Family of Dunton Drive

Memories of Mary Hawkins (née Pratt)

By Nina Humphrey(née Burton)

Mary Hawkins recently mentioned that nobody on this website appears to remember Dunton Drive. Therefore I decided to write a little about her family and childhood home.

Dunton Drive was situated approximately halfway between Laindon and Dunton. From the eastern end of Merrylands Chase, Dunton Drive ran south to Victoria Road, passing the western end of Merrylands Road and Topsham Road on the way. A little further west and running parallel, was Victory Avenue, which contained Victory Close and Wimborne Avenue. A little further west, running parallel was Lower Avenue.

During the twenties, Mary Pratt’s parents May and William decided to move to a bungalow in Laindon. They arrived at Laindon Station and after a long walk with their young daughter Kathleen, via Worthing Road, they arrived at Dunton Drive. They immediately fell in love with the bungalow and its very large garden which had previously been used as a weekend retreat. Decided to buy it, moved in and named it ‘Malvern’. The family loved their new home in the countryside, made friends quickly and became part of the community. Soon daughter Eileen was born followed by little sister Mary in 1935.

Mary gives an interesting account of her childhood on an adjoining website. Go to the menu on the left of our home page, click on ‘Information’, then ‘Links to other websites of interest’, Dunton Plotlands, Dunton Drive. Around 1936 a member of Mary’s family recorded an excellent cine film of life at ‘Malvern’ and some footage of the Laindon Carnival.

During the war years Dunton Drive suffered its share of incidents, including 2 HXE explosives that dropped late in the evening of the 19th April 1941, damaging several bungalows. Mary left Laindon High Road School in 1949 and married Peter Hawkins in 1954.

I spent my childhood in a bungalow in Alexandra Road, which I now realise wasn’t very far from Dunton Drive. I never ventured any further west than Richards’ farm ‘Sunnymead’, when I ‘played out’, however I now wish I had gone exploring.

I’m sure Mary and I would love to hear from anybody who remembers Dunton Drive along with any stories they would like to tell about the area and the families who lived there. Any photographs would be very much appreciated.

Below is a list of the bungalows and occupants in Dunton Drive from the 1949 Electoral Register.

Hi, It's nice to read the old memories of Laindon and see the photos. My nan and grandad, Ethel and Edward Sharp lived at Niagra, Dunton Drive, we visited quite a few times, uncles aunts and cousins. Grandad had what looked like a racing horse to me, we rode it with no saddle. I would love to know where grandad was buried in Billericay 1950 or any stories. Cheers, Brian.

Editor: As he lived in Laindon, it may well have been at St Nicholas Church, Laindon. I will make some enquiries.

By Brian SharpOn 11/08/2015

Hello Amanda. Both David and his brother came to my wedding and lived just up the road from us in Dunton Drive. My Mum was a friend of Mrs Bumpstead. My sister used to play at the boys' house and once came home with her head cut open after playing cowboys and indians round a greengage tree with an axe. They also had a strong hand in putting us on the wrong end of the train which split half way up the track and went in different directions, hence we arrived at the wrong destination and had to get a taxi back to the right one. ha ha!!!! Very happy days. Regards Mary Hawkins (Pratte)

By Mrs.Mary HawkinsOn 23/07/2015

Having visited the Plotlands Museum to trace the exact whereabouts of my father's home, David Bumpsteed, who lived at Faramax with his mother and brother. His father, Edward Bumpsteed, was a draughtsman and drew plans for many of the homes there.

If anyone knows any more detail, I would love to hear about it.

By Amanda BumpsteedOn 29/03/2015

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